By Firstdespatch Desk Sep 28, 2026
Agartala, Sept 28 (FD) Polling for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Village Committee Election recorded substantial voter participation across the state on Monday, with around 72 per cent turnout reported by 4 PM. The polling was conducted across 587 Village Committees amid extensive security arrangements, although isolated incidents of violence, clashes and allegations of electoral irregularities were reported from several areas.
Polling began at 7 AM and continued until 4 PM at designated polling stations. The State Election Commission had made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order and facilitate voting. According to officials, 74 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), along with around 8,977 personnel from the Tripura Police and Tripura State Rifles, were deployed for the election.
Despite the heavy security presence, incidents were reported from different parts of the state during polling.
One of the more serious incidents was reported from Warengbari under Maharani Outpost in the Udaipur subdivision of Gomati district, where reports emerged of firing by unidentified gunmen near a polling station. According to reports from the area, a Tipra Motha candidate and two party workers were allegedly injured in the incident.
Another report identified one of the injured tribal youths as 36-year-old Khachindra Reang. He was reportedly admitted to Gomati District Hospital for medical treatment following the incident. A large police contingent was subsequently deployed in the area to prevent any further escalation and maintain peace.
However, the circumstances surrounding the reported firing remained unclear during the polling process. The identity of those allegedly involved and whether the incident was directly linked to the election were yet to be officially established.
Another incident was reported from Gopalpur Village under Laljuri block in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura. A polling agent of an independent candidate was allegedly attacked by a group of people reportedly arriving from Kanchanpur.
Fire and emergency personnel were reportedly sent to the area following the incident. The injured polling agent was said to have been admitted to Laljuri Primary Health Centre for treatment. Officials had not immediately provided a detailed account of the circumstances behind the alleged attack.
Meanwhile, allegations of obstruction and irregularities were also raised by opposition political leaders. Former TTAADC Chief Executive Member and CPI(M) leader Radhacharan Debbarma alleged that opposition candidates and polling agents faced obstruction at several polling stations.
Debbarma also raised allegations of bogus voting in parts of West Tripura, including Jirania and Mandai, as well as in some areas of Sepahijala district. These allegations were made during the polling process and would require verification by the competent election authorities.
In a separate development, West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar reportedly received a complaint from a CPI(M) candidate during his visit to a polling station in Mandai. The candidate alleged that outsiders were being presented as voters and were being allowed to cast their votes. The complaint was brought to the notice of the district administration for examination.
At the same time, the Gomati district administration stated that polling was being conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner. The District Election Officer-cum-District Magistrate and Collector visited several polling stations to review security arrangements and monitor the voting process.
Chief Minister Manik Saha also described the polling process as peaceful and appealed to voters to participate in the democratic exercise. Reports from North Tripura similarly indicated that voters had turned up at polling stations from the morning, with polling proceeding in a festive atmosphere in several areas.
The authorities had placed particular emphasis on security at polling stations identified as sensitive or vulnerable. More than 15,000 central and state security personnel were reportedly deployed across Tripura in connection with the election.
The reported 72 per cent turnout by 4 PM reflected substantial participation among voters across the TTAADC areas. The State Election Commission had scheduled polling from 7 AM to 4 PM, while counting of votes is scheduled to take place on October 5.
The TTAADC Village Committee Election carries political significance as the polls are being held after a gap of nearly 10 years. The election has brought major political parties and regional forces into the contest, including Tipra Motha, BJP, CPI(M), Congress, IPFT and independent candidates.
With polling now completed, attention will shift to the scrutiny of election-related complaints, the official assessment of incidents reported during voting and the counting of votes scheduled for October 5. The final outcome will determine the composition of the Village Committees across the TTAADC areas. FD JK